In the wake of sharp reaction at home to his remarks, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today said ‘‘the question of sending Indian troops to Iraq does not arise’’. The Government’s position on this issue is based on national consensus reflected in the parliamentary resolution in the framing of which he played a role. ‘‘No request has been made by the US for sending Indian troops to Iraq,’’ he told reporters at the Indian Embassy here. The minister made it clear that last year’s Parliament resolution against sending troops to Iraq ‘‘remains India’s policy’’.‘‘We welcome the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution as a first step in restoring sovereignty to the Iraqi people, leading to stability and reconstruction,’’ he said.When it was pointed out that his statement on Iraq at a joint appearance with Powell at the entrance to the State Department has ‘‘drawn flak’’ in India, Singh joked: ‘‘I have strong nerves.’’He said that there should have been no room for misinterpretation of what he said on Iraq. Singh said that he does not lose his nerve just because ‘‘somebody calls me names’’ but ‘‘I don’t want to criticise colleagues in the Opposition’’. Singh said that some of his friends have gone ‘‘flat out’’ on his statement on Iraq. His reference to the UN resolution was very specific: The UK and the US had previously bypassed the Security Council and now they have gone through the Security Council. ‘‘That is a new situation. I do not know how you can link it up to troops. It (the question) does not arise,’’ he said. ‘‘We will keep the developments in Iraq under close review,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘all decisions will be taken by the government in close consultation with all political parties.’’ —(PTI)
